no juice bronco

[ladynemo]

Hi all, I'm new here of course. I found this forum trying to find any info on what commonly causes a 1987 Bronco XLT 302 to suddenly have no power. Good battery, the fusible link to the alternator checks out ok, just put a new starter solenoid on. Before the new solenoid, it would grind but not start. The solenoid would just click, even with a battery charger in 50 amp jump start mode hooked up. Now, new solenoid and Nothin!

What should we check next? Is there a thermocouple hiding on us?

Appreciate any help.

Since we got it about a year ago we have replaced the following:

starter

battery cables

fan clutch

right rear axle seal (which blew out again - gotta replace the bearings too now.)

radiator hoses

The electronic shift into 4x4 doesn't do anything, so we know there are other electrical problems. Once in awhile the emissions light comes on and none of the power windows will work if it's on.

We got this Bronco after my step-son's got stolen while we were truck sitting and my husband was helping him get it running. I trusted the wrong person when we had to move unexpectedly and his Bronco got stolen from a "friend's" place. I insisted we replace it because it was my fault it was there. That, and this is the only one of my husband's kids by his ex who will talk to him. The rest still think he's the anti-Christ (no blasphemy intended).

Thanks all!

LadyNemo

 

[Bronco Kid!]

hi i had the same problem with my 88 xlt back when i was in high school i was able to turn the key on and my dash lights would come on and fuel pump would come on but it would not crank, so what i did was i got a trigger that i attached one wire to the positive side of the starter selinoid and the had the other wire go to the small stud that your ignition wire would go to, its between the big postive and negative terminals on the starter selinoid, taht way i could just pull the trigger when i had my key turned on and it would crank over and fire up.. so if your able to turn your key on and your fuel pump kicks on and your dash lights work try that..

now if you turn your key and you get no lights on the dash try this, around your steering colum near the dash there should be a plastic cover that comes off with two screws, if you pull that off you can locate the rod that goes from your tumbler down to your ignition switch (its on the top side of your steering collum) where all the wiring goes to power things up when you key on.. well if you turn your key to the run postion and that rod isn't being pushed all the way down you can push it with your finger that should give power to your starter but you will still need a trigger to crank the starter..

if you want to test it with out a trigger just key on and then walk over to you selinoid and take a ***** driver from the positive post to the small post that your ignition wire goes too

hope this helps keep us posted and if any part of this didnt make sence i will try to better explain it

 

[miesk5]

yo,

WELCOME!

Go thru this by FORD;

Four Wheel Drive (4X4) General Information, Operation & Troubleshooting TSB 92-1-8 for Bronco, F Series & Ranger (COMPLETE); Includes Electric Shift On The Fly (ESOF) Troubleshooting & Hub Operation; same for 87-96Source: by Ford via Chilton

exc for that in 87; power from Fuse 6 (15 amp) to "ELECT SHIFT CONTROL MOD" WHT-PPL and CB 12 (30amp) to "ELECT SHIFT CONTROL MOD" BLK-WHT; SEE A7 and A8 in the 4x4 diagram, it shows those two wires BLK-WHT as BK/W from SHIFT MODULE to P1 BATTY and and WHT-PPL as W/P to P2

 

[ladynemo]

Thank you both!! Started looking at the starter solenoid wiring, and checking where everything went - looks like the previous owners must've jury-rigged it so a defective solenoid worked! One of the wires was on the wrong side of the solenoid. Not only do we have power now, it starts easier, runs better, and the volt gauge is sitting where most Ford products I've driven like to sit, which is higher than it ever has before!

Thank you thank you thank you!

And now on to the rest of the repairs. And putting a starter on our '91 Cougar.

Thank you!

LadyNemo